Metal spraying apparatus



D. D. TAYLOR METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS y Oct. 30, 1934.

' Filed April 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l n@ NN ,imm.

' Oct. 30, 1.934. D. D; TAYLOR METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/rm Tag/OI,

35S SMWMQS 52,43 M YCFWQQQL' NWN .mm

Passed o... so, 1934 1,979,179

UNITED Is'rxrizs PATENT lori-ICE -METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS Donald D. Taylor; Duncannon, Pa., assignor to Advance Engineering Corporation, Duncannon, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April `29, 1933, Serial No. 668,653

12 Claims. (Cl. 9112.2)

My invention relates to improvementsin metal- Fig. 8 is a view, in side elevation, -of another spraying apparatus, and has to do, more parmodified form of my invention, in which the conticularly, with improvements in pistols for spraytrol and spraying heads are stationary with reing such metals as lead, tin, zinc, and the like, spect to each other and in which the heating '5 either pure or alloyed. torch is exible and capable of disposition into 60 It is a primary object of my invention to proor out of heating relation with respect to the vide a metal-spraying device which is of simple stock-melting chamber; and construction and high efficiency. v Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the spray- It is an object of my invention to provide a ing head and air tube supporting the spraying metal-spraying pistol whichv is light in weight head, showing the spring and bayonet-slot se- 65 and can be employed for long periods without curing means by which the head may be attached fatiguing the operator. or detached at will to permit use of the heating It is anobject of my invention to provide a torch for its several purposes. metal-spraying pistol 1 in which the torch em- The same reference numerals refer to similar 5 p'oyed for melting the stock to be sprayed may parts throughout the several views. 70

at will also be employed for preheating the sur- Broadly, my invention consists in the provision face of the object to be sprayed or for heating of a simple pistol for applying coatings and fillthe sprayed coating or filling after its applicaings of metal or equivalent substances, which tion. may be readily converted from a spray gun to a Further objects, and objects relating to detorch for preheating objects to be sprayed or for 75 tails and economies of construction and operation heating coatings or fillings after their application.

, will definitely appear from the detailed descrip- The preheating of objects prior to spraying is of tion to follow.A My Vinvention is clearly pointed great importance where the bond between the out in the appended claims. vPreferred embodicoating and the object to be coated is eiiected by i ments of my invention are illustrated in the acuse of a flux or tinning agent. Thus, with a 8@ companying drawings, in which: readily convertible device of the present type, not

Figure 1 is a View, taken in side elevation, of only may the necessity of having a distinct prea preferred form of metal-spraying pistol ernheating torch such as the conventional welding bodying the present invention, the control head torch be eliminated, but considerable time may being shown in section and the spraying head, be saved by the operator. Likewise, the conwith its stock-melting chamber and the preheatvertible character of the present device is of great ing torch, also being shown in section; value in connection with the heating of coatings Fig.' 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the sprayor llings after their application. As in the case ing head and melting chamber in inverted posiof its use as a preheating torch, the need for a tion with the preheating torch disposed in opdistinct heating torch is avoided and the delay 90 erative position; incident to the employment of two pieces of ap- Fig. 3 is a view, in top elevation, of the sprayparatus is eliminated. In this connection, it ing head of the pistol, the parts being disposed should be explained that heating of sprayed mein position for spraying, as shown in Fig. 1; tall-ic coatings and fillings is desirable for two Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the primary reasons. First, sprayed metal, as a rule, 95 line 4 4 of Fig. 1; is more or less crystalline in character and quite Fig. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the spraybrittle, having a marked tendency toward fracing head of a modified form of my invention ture when flexed. By applying heat to sprayed in which the spray head and melting chamber metal until it has become plastic, the crystalline are swingable downwardly out of the line of the character thereof is changed and the resistance heating torch to permit use of the latter in its to fracture is greatly increased. preheating or coating-heating capacity; y Another broadly novel feature of my invention Fig. 6 is a view, in side elevation,A of another consists in the streamlining of the external walls modied form of my invention in which the sprayof the melting pot for metal stock permitting the ing head and control head are rigidly mounted use of a simple external torch. in alinement, and in which the heating torch is More specifically, and with particular reference swingable into and out of heating relation with to the accompanying drawings in which I have respect to the stock-melting chamber; illustrated several preferred structural forms in Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the Which my invention is embodied, there is shown 55 line 7-7 0f Fig. 6; in Figs. 1 to 4 a pistol of the general type shown no lair supply hose (not shown).

and claimed in' my copending application, Serial No. 613,531, filed May 25, 1932 which has eventuated into Patent No. 1,934,891. Like the pistol therein disclosed, the present pistol consists,

broadly, of a spraying head having formed therein a melting chamber or pot for bar or strip stock, and carrying threadedly mounted jets 16 and 17 for molten metal and compressed air, respectively, a control head 11, a manual grip 12, and a compressed air conducting tube 20, by which the spraying head 10 and control head 11 are held in assembly. As in the pistol construction of the 'said'copending application, compressed air is supplied to the device by the connection, to a threaded nipple 25, of a flexible Likewise, air is conducted, subject to control by the trigger 24, past the trigger valve 22 with its spring 23, through the duct 19; is subjected to regulation by the needle valve 21, and thence conducted through the tube 20 and duct 18 to the jet 17 of the atomizing nozzle. A nipple 40 is formed integral with the control head 11, and to this nipple a supply of compressed acetylene, or similar inflammable gas, is fed by means of a ilexible hose, (not shown). By means of a regulating valve 41, the inammable gas is allowed to pass at a desired rate to the tubular torch'35 having air inlet ports 38 and a gas jet 36. For the purpose of dissipating heat, thereby lessening the tendency toward heating of `the control head 11, a series of fins 39 are formed upon the torch tube 35. A similar series of fins 20a are also provided upon the air tube 20. With the device adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, flame projected from the torch impinges upon the walls of the melting pot 15 and, due to the ovate or streamlined cross-sectional form thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, is caused to part into two branches, leach of which hugs the adjacent side wall of the pot and finally tends/to merge again, at the forward portion of the p ot, with the other branch. Thus there is effected substantially complete'encirclement ofthe intermediate portion of the melting pot by the tongue of flame projected from the torch 35. I am aware that similar streamlining of objects subject to air currents is well known, but I regard the herein disclosed application of this principle to eiect substantially uniform and highly eiiicient heating of a portable melting pot by a single external torch of simple construction to be new in the art. For the purpose of preventing the projection of heat beyond the spray nozzle of the pistol, and also for the purpose of maintaining said nozzle in a warm condition conducive to fine atomizationgl provide a flange. 55 which obstructs and laterally deectsA the blast of hot gas from the torch. 'I'he importance of this flange 55 is readily understood in a pistol adapted for repairing holes and dents in automobile bodies and the like where surfaces adjacent the injury to be repaired are highly finished as with'lacquer. As is well known, the

l temperature o f the atomized metal particles proing of the air tube 20 in the spraying head 10 so that the latter may be rotated 180 upon the threaded end of the tube 20, the provision of a torch extension tube 56 having a semicircular end 57 engageable with the forward end of the torch tube 35 and constituting a stop assuring proper element of the extension -56 and the torch proper 35, the provision of a similar stop 58 assuring alinement of the spraying head 10 with the torch 35 when'the spraying head is rotated to operative position, and a packing ring 59 and packing nut 60 disposed in the spraying head and about the tube 20. A handle 61 having a coiled, heat-radiating shank 62 attached to the spraying head 10 makes possible easy rotation of the spraying head to the desired limit of movement permitted by the stops 57 and 58. Fig. 1 illustrates the device in position for spraying while Fig. 2 illustrates the spraying head in inverted position permitting use of the device as a simple torch.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a spraying head 110 and means for mounting said head to the airtube 120 so that the torch 35 may be selectively employed either for heating the melting pot 15 or for heating an object or coatingwithout interference or obstruction by the spraying head 110. The control head (not shown) and the atomizing nozzle'of this form of pistol are preferably identical with those of the pistol shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and need not be described. The melting pot 15 is of ovate shape similar to that of the pistol shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Instead of the swiveled connection shown in Fig. 1, however, the connection of the spraying head 110 to the air tube 120 has the formv of a knuckle consisting of an eye portion 156 formed on the end of the air tube 120 which is ysnugly engaged in a jaw portion 157 4formed on the spraying head 110. A screw 158 maintains said knuckle portions in assembly permitting vertical pivotal movement of the head 110 with respect to the tube 120. A compressed air duct (not shown) extends through the knuckle joint which is otherwise of the usual character employed in articulated fluid lines. A handle 161, anchored in the head 110, constitutes a facile means by which the head 110 may be swung upwardly to spraying position, or downwardly into non-spraying position permitting use of the torch tion, the spraying head 110 is not, permanently se-A cured to the air tube as in the previously described` pistols, but is readily detachable therefrom, permitting use of the torch for purposesv f other than heating the melting pot. More specically, the bayonet joint comprises a bayonetl slotted tubular portion 170 for'med integral with the rear end of the spraying head 110, a pin 171 or pins extending outwardly from the air tube 120 and engageable with the slot or slots in the tubular portion 170,"and a spring 172 disposed within the portion 170 and-yieldably holding said pin associated with said slot.

Ihe form of pistol shown in Figs. 6 and l is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, with the exception that the spraying head 210 is rigidly mounted upon the air tube 220 which, in turn, is rigidly mounted upon the control head 211. For the purpose of permitting use of the device as a heating torch unobstructed by the melting pot 15, the torch 235 is threaded into an offset mounting 2'75, which is journaled swivelly in. the control head 211 by means of threads which permit free rotation of the socket 275 for an extent of 180. Leakage of gas past said threads is prevented by means of a packing ring 280 retained snugly in the joint by means of a packing nut 281. A torch extension 2 56 of lesser extent than that 56 of the pistol illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed integral'with and at the top of the spraying head 210, which extension is provided with a semi-circular stop 257 which engages the torch- 235 whenswung upwardly with its offset mounting 275. A handle element 261 is attached to the mounting 275 for the torch and is displaced sufficiently therefrom to be maintained suiiiciently cool for grasping by the operator. A web 276, integral with the spraying head 210, extends from the air tube connected portion thereof to the stop 257 and is intermediately notched at 277 to serve as a stop for determining the proper disposition of the torch 235 with respect to the ovate melting pot 15 during the spraying operation.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a pistol construction similar to that shown in Fig. 6, the primary distinction being that the torch 335 is rigidly mounted in' the control head 311, but is inherently displaceable without the requirement of an offset swiveled mounting.. In this embodiment of my invention the torch 335 is constituted in part by a section 336 of exible metallic tubing which, when bent downwardly by the application of pressure upon the handle 361, will direct flame horizontally against the rear face of the ovate melting pot 15. When flexed upwardly, as shown in dotted lines, the tongue of flame projected by the torch will clear the spraying head 310 and may be directed against any object desired, as in the case of the other illustrated forms of my invention.

From the preceding description the operation of the devices illustrated should be easily understood. In general, metal or other coating material disposed in the melting chamber 15 is reduced to the molten state by reason of the heat imparted to the melting chamber by the gas torch. Compressed air controlled by the trigger operated valve 22 and regulated by the needle valve 21 passes to the compressed air jet 17 and draws molten coating material through the jet 16, atomizing it and projecting it from the nozzle of the pistol. v

When the object to be coated requires preheating, with the form of pistol illustrated in Figs. l to 4', such preheating may be easily accomplished by swinging the spraying head 10 about its swivel mounting on the air tube 20 until the stop 57 engages the end of the torch 35 and the tube 56 constitutes an extension thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Spraying may be accomplished by returning the spraying head 10 to its position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the stop 58 is engaged with the forward end of the torch 35, and the flame from the torch is divided into two branches which hug and encircle the melting pot 15, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 3.

Likewise, where it is desirable that a coating or lling, after its application, be tempered so as to lessen its crystalline character and brittleness, or Where it is necessary to work the surface of coating or filling into a modified form by means of wiping or paddling, the device should be employed in its position shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the pistol illustrated in Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that the torch 35, having no extension, is brought into object-preheating or coating-heating position merely by swinging the spraying head downwardly into the position shown by the dotted lines.

In the case of a pistolvhaving a detachable spraying head and a connection such as shown in Fig. 9, operation of the device as an object-preheating or coating-heating torch'is eiected by partially rotating the spraying head and uncoupling the slotted portion 170 thereof from the pins 171.

With a pistol of the type disclosed in Fig. 6, conversion of the device from a spraying pistol to a heating torch and vice versa, is effected by grasping the handle 261 and swinging the torch 235 upwardly into engagement with the extension 256 or downwardly into engagement with the notch 277 of the web 276, respectively.

In the case of the pistol illustrated in Fig. 8,

conversion of the device from a spraying pistol to y a preheating or coating-heating torch is accomplished by bending the exible tube 336, constituting the forward end of the torch 335, into the position shown by the dotted lines in that figure.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other forms than those illustrated. Moreover, the devices disclosed are not limited to employment in the spraying of metal, but may use, as coating or filling stock, any equivalent material which is normally solid but must be reduced to the molten state for spraying purposes. Likewise, while from the standpoint of maintaining desired temperatures in the melting pot, spray jets, and manual grip, the disclosed forms of pistols having distinct spraying heads and control heads are of advantage, the invention is not so restricted in scope. Similarly, although compressed air is generally intended for use as the atomizing and projecting medium for the coating or lling material, under some conditions, nonoxidizing or other special gases may be employed.

Numerous other uses and changes should appear to those skilled in the art. I, therefore, claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and llings, a melting chamber for metal stock to be sprayed, a jet for molten metal, a compressed air jet associated with said jet for molten metal to effect projection of metal in spray form, a grip for manually supporting said elements, a` valve for j controlling the passage of compressed air to said air jet, and a gas heating torch carried by said grip and normally disposed to direct heat upon the walls of said chamber, said torch being selectively movable out of heating relation with respect to the walls of said chamber into a position in which said torch may be employed as a means for preheating the object to be sprayed or as a means for heating previously applied coatings or fillings.

2. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip and a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle, and a gas torch carried by said control head and selectively movable with respect to said spraying head either into heating relation with the walls of said melting chamber or into displaced relation with said melting chamber permissive of luse as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or asa means for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

3. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip and a forwardly directed gas torch, and means for supporting said spraying head from said control head, said means including a pivotal joint upon which said spraying head may be selectively swung into spraying position in which flame projected from said gas torch plays upon and heats said melting chamber, or into nonspraying position in which said spraying head is remote from said torch permitting use of the latter as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

4. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip, a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle and a forwardly directed gas torch, and means for supporting said spraying head from said control head, said means including a duct for compressed air and a'pivotal joint upon which said spraying head may be selectively swung up into operative position in which fiame projected from said gas torch plays upon and heats said melting chamber, or down into inoperative position in which said spraying head is remote from said torch permitting use of the latter as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

5. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for'metal stock to'be sprayed andan atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed-air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip, a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle and a forwardly directed gas` torch, and means for supporting said spraying head from said control head, said means consisting of a tubular member anchored at its rear end in said control head and yat its forward end in said spraying head, said tubular member constituting a duct for transmitting compressed air from said control head to said spraying head and having swiveled connectionyin one of said heads so that said spraying head may be selectively rotated with respect to said control head into an operative position in which flame projected from said gas torch plays upon'and heats said melting chamber, or into inoperative position in which said melting chamber is remote from said torch permitting use of the latter as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means f for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

6. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head havingv a manual grip, a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle and a forwardly directed gas torch, an extension for stituting a duct for transmitting compressed air from said control head to said spraying head and having swiveled connection in one of said heads so that said spraying head may be selectively rotated with respect to said control head into spraying position in which flame projected from said gas torch plays upon and heats said melting chamber, or into non-spraying position in which said melting chamber is remote from said torch and said torch extension is associated with said torch proper to permit use of said extended torch as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or llings after their application.

7. In a pistol for applying metal vcoatings and 9( fillings, a spraying head having a melting cham-.-

\ ber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip, a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle, and a forwardly directed gas torch, an extension for said gas torch mounted on said spraying head, a handle of non-heating character mounted upon said spraying head and means for supporting said 10U spraying head from said control head, said means consisting of a tubular member anchored at its rear end in said control head and at its forward end in said spraying head, said tubular member constituting a duct for transmitting compressed air from saidvcontrol head to said spraying head and having a swiveled connection in one of Isaid. heads so that said spraying head may, by means of said handle, be selectively rotated with respect to said control head into spraying position in which flame projected from said .gas torch plays upon and heats said melting chamber, or into non-spraying position in which said melting chamber is remote from'said torch and said torch extension is associated with said torch proper to permit use of said extended torch as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

8. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting chamber for melting stock to be sprayed and an atom` izing nozzle consisting\of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip and a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle, means for supporting said spraying head from said control head, and a' gas torch carried by said control head and journaled for movement thereyon so as to be selectively capable of disposition in heating relation with said chamber or out of heating relation withl said spraying head and into'unobstructed heating relation with anl object to be preheated or a previously applied coating or filling. .Y

9. In a pistol for applying coatings and fillings, a melting chamber for stock to be sprayed, and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated co'mpressed air and stock-spraying jets, a manual grip for supporting said chamber and nozzle, and a gas torch carried by said grip and having its jet selectively movable into heating relation with said melting chamber or out of heating relation with said chamber and into an unobstructed relation with respect to portions of said pistol permissive of use as a means for preheatingobjects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or fillings after their application.

10. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a spraying head having a melting cham- 150 ber for metal stock to be sprayed and an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metal-spraying jets, a control head having a manual grip and a valve for controlling the passage of compressed air to said nozzle, means for supporting said spraying head from said control head and transmitting compressed air to said spraying head, said means consisting of a tubular member anchored at one end in said control l0 head and at the other end in said spraying head, and a gas torch swivel-mounted upon said control head and selectively rotatable with respet thereto into a position in which flame projected therefrom will be directed against the Walls of saidmelting chamber, or into another position in which said torch is remote from said melting chamber permitting use of said torch as a means for preheating objects to be sprayed or as a means for heating coatings or llings after their application.

11. In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a manual grip, a spraying head carried by said grip having an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metalspraying jets and an open-top stock-melting pot of approximately one inch diameter and in which the end of conventional bar or strip stock may be vertically disposed and fed, and a gas torch carried by said grip and disposed With its mouth facing said melting pot for directing a horizontal tongue of flame against said intermediate portion, said melting pot being ovate in horizontal cross-section with its long horizontal axis disposed in the line of iiame so that iiame impingin'g upon said intermediateportion will be parted thereby and be caused to closely hug and substantially encircle the intermediate portion of said melting pot.

12.- In a pistol for applying metal coatings and fillings, a manual grip, a spraying head carried by said grip and having an atomizing nozzle consisting of associated compressed air and metalspraying jets, an open-top stock-melting pot of, approximately one inch diameter vdisposed directly behind said atomizing nozzle and in which the end of conventional bar or strip stock may be vertically disposed and fed, a gas torch carried by said grip and disposed with its mouth facing said melting pot for directing a horizontal tongue of flame against the rear intermediate portion thereof, said intermediate portion of saidy melting pot being ovate in horizontal cross-section with its long horizontal axis disposed in the line of dame so that flame impinging upon said intermediate portion Will be parted thereby and be caused to closely hug and substantially encircle the intermediate portion of said melting pot, and a iiange intermediate' said melting pot and atomizing nozzle disposed transverse the line of flame for maintaining said nozzle in heated condition and preventing passage of flame beyond said nozzle. 1

DoNALD D. TAYLOR. 

